LONDON, Feb 16: Boyband One Direction have reportedly taken up Zumba classes to get in shape for their live shows.
The group, Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne, Harry Styles, Zayn Malik and Niall Horan, begin their world tour at London’s O2 Arena on February 23 and so have joined the dance and fitness class in a bid to get fit, reported Sun online.
“The lads are not natural movers so them dancing to Latin music is a sight to behold. But they know it’s good for fitness so they’re putting in the graft,” a source said.
They have also been warned off late night partying, drinking and smoking by their management to ensure they are in peak physical condition for the 100 date global tour, which will last for ten months. (PTI)
One Direction taking Zumba classes to stay fit?
63 killed in Pak blast
ISLAMABAD, Feb 16:
Sixty-three people, including women and children, were killed and nearly 200 injured when a powerful bomb ripped through a Shia neighbourhood of Quetta city in southwest Pakistan today, the latest in a string of attacks targeting the minority community.
The blast occurred at Kirani Road in Hazara Town, a suburb of Quetta with a large Shia population that has been targeted by terrorists in the past.
The area was crowded at the time of the blast.
The bomb was hidden in a vehicle and triggered by remote control, DIG Wazir Khan Nasir told reporters.
He said the Shia Hazara community was the target of the attack.
Officials at the Bolan Medical Complex, Civil Hospital and a military hospital said 63 people had died and about 200 injured were being treated.
Several women and children were among the dead.
The death toll could rise as some of the wounded were in a serious condition, officials said.
Officials said the vehicle with the bomb was parked near the pillar of a building in a market. The building collapsed due to the intensity of blast and several persons were trapped in the debris.
An estimated 100 kg of explosives was used in the attack, officials said.
“The blast was so intense that it razed a two storey building to the ground and they are still some people trapped under the debris which is being cleared in a extensive rescue operation,” Quetta’s city police chief Mir Zubair told PTI.
A spokesman for the banned extremist group Lashkar-e- Jhangvi claimed responsibility for the attack.
Footage on television showed several buildings were reduced to piles of rubble by the blast that was heard all over Quetta, the capital of the restive Balochistan province.
Several shops and vehicles were destroyed. Angry people took to the streets and protested against the attack.
Following the attack, the federal Government imposed Governor’s Rule in Balochistan.
Shia groups and political parties asked people to observe three days of mourning and called for a strike in Quetta tomorrow to protest the killing of members of the minority community.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf condemned the attack and reiterated the Government’s resolve to continue the fight against militants.
Ashraf directed provincial authorities to arrest the perpetrators of the blast.
“We will not be intimidated by such cowardly acts and such acts will not deter our resolve to fight terrorism,” he said. (PTI)
Romalo Ram conferred with ‘Sangeet Shri’ award
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 16: Renowned Dogri folk singer Romalo Ram was conferred with “Sangeet Shri” award by the Nami Dogri Sanstha (NDS) at KL Saigal Hall.
On the occasion, Ashwani Sharma, MLA Bishnah was the chief guest, while Ravi Magotra, Programme Head, Radio Kashmir Jammu, was the guest of honour. Prof Savita Bakshi, Additional Secretary, Cultural Academy was the special guest, while SS Anand Lehar, renowned Urdu short story writer, presided over the function and Harish Kaila, president, NDS was also present.
A citation, shawl and a memento were presented to Romalo Ram by all the dignitaries.
Dr Chanchal Sharma, organizing secretary, NDS read paper on the contribution and services rendered by Romalo Ram in the filed of music.
A brief music programme was also presented by Romalo Ram and party.
At the end, Captain Lalit Sharma presented vote of thanks
ITBP lifts 4th Ladakh Winter Tourism Promotion Ice Hockey C’ship
Excelsior Sports Correspondent
LEH, Feb 16: Defeating their rivals Ibex Challengers by two goals to nil (2-0) in the summit clash, Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) team lifted the title trophy of the 4th Ladakh Winter Tourism Promotion Ice Hockey Championship at Karzoo Ice Hockey Rink, here.
The closing function was presided over by the Chief Executive Councilor (CEO), LAHDC, Leh Rigzin Spalbar.
The highlight of the concluding function was a Figure Skating Dance by the young players including boys and girls of Leh on the tune and rhythm of an enthralling Bhutanese song choreographed by Dorjey Wangchok Mogol.
Speaking on the occasion the CEC Rigzin Spalbar said that winter games have been proving a good medium in promoting winter tourism in Ladakh and the LAHDC would like to organize the winter games as a carnival in future in a more organized way.
He urged the need of advance publicity for next winter games so that the players would enthusiastically participate in the coming tournaments.
Earlier, the Assistant Director Tourism, Sonam Dorje underlined the objective of sponsoring and holding the tournament and said that tourism has been playing a vital role in the economic growth of this region adding that it is gaining further momentum in Ladakh.
The match was among others witnessed by the Executive Councilor, CAPD Ghulam Abbas Abidi, Executive Councilor Heath, Dr Sonam Wangchok and top ranking Army and ITBP officers.
Tougher laws on the anvil to deal with crime agst women:Shinde
NEW DELHI, Feb 16:
Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde today said the Government was working towards bringing more tougher laws and fast-track courts to try cases like the “shameful” December 16 gangrape to instill confidence among women in the country.
Addressing Delhi Police personnel after taking salute at the 66th Raising Day Parade here, Shinde asked the force to ensure that such incidents do not recur in the future and be more sensitive towards people’s needs.
“In a society there is no place for such shameful incidents. We should make sure that such incidents do not happen again….The government is working towards setting up fast-track courts and enacting tougher laws. The government is working to make the laws tougher,” he said.
Shinde, who began his career as a police constable, also lauded the Delhi Police for acting “prompt” and nabbing the accused within 24 hours and filing a chargesheet in the case in 18 days.
Noting that more steps are needed for ensuring safety of women, he said the Delhi Police has taken several steps after the gangrape of the 23-year-old paramedical student and hoped that they will instill confidence in women.
“Although the police job is to maintain law and order, public comes to police for all the problems, so we need to make the working of police more transparent and sensitive…Police should be friends of the people,” he said.
Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar termed the gangrape as a “horrific” incident and spoke about the anger of people on the streets of Delhi after the incident.
“Delhiites came on to the streets to express their anger on the incident. Their anger which was probably against the laws they expressed it on police. During the protests, one of our police constable lost his life and many police officers were injured in the protests,” he said, adding that the case was solved within 24 hours. (PTI)
PDD Engineers meet Power Minister
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 16: Degree and Diploma holders Engineers of Power Development Department (PDD) led by Ramnik Singh, general secretary, J&K Electrical Engineering Graduates Association and JS Slathia, president, All J&K Diploma Engineers Association held a meeting with Minister of State for Power Vikar Rasool Wani.
During the meeting, various issues were discussed and a memorandum was also submitted to the Minister.
The Minister gave a patient hearing to the issues highlighted and assured that the problems will be redressed at the earliest.
Among others present were Vageesh Sharma, Harvrinder Singh, Ratneesh Puri, JS Rathore, Sanjay Koul, Lenin Kumar, Jatinder Singh, etc.
J&K’s Prinkle wins twin title in All India Tennis Series
Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 16: Ace tennis player of Jammu and Kashmir, Prinkle Singh lifted twin tennis titles in the ongoing All India Talent Series of AITA, being held at Lawn Tennis Stadium, Sector-10, Chandigarh.
In Under-12 singles, Prinkle Singh defeated Sarah Dev of Punjab by (2-1) in a tough contest. After losing the first set narrowly by (4-6), talented Prinkle came back strongly to win the other two sets easily by (6-3) and (6-2) to win the title.
Earlier, Prinkle thrashed Ravneet of Haryana in straight sets by (4-0, 4-0) in the first round and Taneesha of Amritsar by the same margin. Then, in the quarterfinals, gritty Prinkle defeated Alisha Menon of Amritsar by (4-1, 4-2) in straight sets. Prinkle drubbed Ashpreet of Punjab (4-0, 4-1) in the semifinals to seal berth in the finals.
Meanwhile, in the doubles event, the second seeded duo of Prinkle and Sarah Dev got better of first seeded pair of Aarushi Kakkar of Chandigarh and Seerat Sidhu of the same place in straight sets by (4-0, 4-1) in an easy contest.
Earlier, in the doubles first round, Prinkle-Sarah pair thrashed Kamal-Sandeep duo of Haryana in an easy contest by (4-0, 4-0). In the second round, the star pair defeated Ishika and Bunty of Chandigarh by (4-0, 4-0), while in the semifinals, Prinkle and Sarah pair prevailed over the pair of Neelanchal of Delhi and Itika of Rajasthan by a score of (4-1, 4-0) to make it to the finals.
JD(S) demands arrest of Yasin Malik
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 16: State unit of Janta Dal (Secular) has demanded strong action against JKLF chairman Yasin Malik for anti-national activities in Pakistan.
The demand was made during a meeting of the JD(S) executive body, here today, under the chairmanship of its State president Mast Nath Jogi.
Mr Jogi asked the State and Central Government to cancel Yasin Malik’s passport and arrest him immediately. He also demanded that the security provided to JKLF leader should be withdrawn.
Mr Jogi also highlighted the issue of poor quality ration being supplied at the Government depots in Jammu region.
The meeting was attended by Ram Rattan Sharma, Bhagwati Sharan Sharma, Ranjay Bargotra, R S Sharma and others.
Governor inaugurates LBM Residential School complex for sightless girls
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 16: Governor N N Vohra, inaugurated the first floor of the Louis Braille Memorial Residential School Building Complex for sightless girls at Roop Nagar, here today.
Speaking on the occasion, the Governor referred to the memorandum of demands presented to him by a delegation of the functionaries of the National Federation of the Blind (J&K Chapter) last year and observed that he had taken up all their problems with the Chief Minister and the Minister for Social Welfare. He said that several issues raised by the Federation had since been addressed and he hoped that the remaining ones will also be resolved in the coming time.
Referring to the various demands projected in the memorandum presented by the Federation to him at today’s function, the Governor observed that the matter regarding provision for appearing of the sightless persons in the Combined Competitive Services Examination in the State would be taken up at the appropriate level.
The Governor, who is Chairman of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, announced support of Rs. 5 lakh to the National Federation of the Blind (J&K Chapter) from the Shrine Board, for infrastructure development of School for sightless girls.
Earlier, the Governor inaugurated the new complex and went around the building. He suggested construction of a ramp in the toilets for the convenience of the sightless girls.
Bharat Bhushan, MLA, said that with the inauguration of the building complex of the school by the Governor a long felt need of this institution has been fulfilled. He announced Rs. 3 lakh from his Constituency Development Fund for purchase of a vehicle for the Louis Braille Memorial Residential School for sightless girls, Roop Nagar.
S. K. Rungta, All India General Secretary, National Federation of the Blind, New Delhi, spoke about the activities of the Federation for securing the welfare of the visually impaired.
Sanjay Gupta, President, National Federation of the Blind (J&K Chapter), in his welcome address, spoke about the activities of the Federation in the State.
Ram Dass Dubey, General Secretary, National Federation of the Blind (J&K Chapter) said that with the support and patronage of the Governor several of their problems have been addressed.
Irshad Hussain Shah, Vice President, National Federation of the Blind (J&K Chapter) presented a vote of thanks.
Navin K. Choudhary, Principal Secretary to the Governor, functionaries of the Federation, teachers and students of the school and a large number of people were present on this occasion.
J&K wins 18 medals in Musical Chair Speed, Skating C’ship
Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 16: Jammu and Kashmir State under 11, 14, 17 and above 17 Musical Chair (Speed/Skating) team bagged 18 medals in 7th National Musical Chair (Speed/Skating) Championships held at Chatra in Jharkhand, recently.
Medal winners:
Under-11 boys: Master Mayank Kesar and Antriksh Mansotra,
Under-14 boys: Jyotier Aditya Singh, Vishal Sardhalia and Abhinandan Samontra.
Under 17 boys: Sahil Sharma, Spran Ali, Ramnik Sharma, Sham Sundar, Sushil Kumar, Satpaul, Sunil Sharma, Karan Kumar, Bablu Kumar, Vasu Sharma and Ajay Sharma.
Above-17 girls: Anita Sharma and Romi Jasrotia,
JKMCA chairman, Dr Pavan Malhotra, president, Madan Lal and general secretary BR Sharma felicitated the medal winners.